Abdul Ali Malik

Lieutenant General Abdul Ali Malik was a Pakistani Army general and well known figure from the Chawinda tank battle during the 1965 Indo-Pakistani war and a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Biography

He belonged to a small village called Pindori which is about 65 Kilometers away from Rawalpindi. His brother Lieutenant General Akhtar Hussain Malik was also an Army general and was himself a hero of 1965 war too.

He retired from the Army after commanding the I Corps at Mangla.

1965 war

During the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965, Brigadier Abdul Ali Malik was commander of the 24 armoured brigade in the Sialkot-Phillurah-Chamb sector. At the start of the war, his brigade was ordered by the senior 15 division to defend the imaginary Indian attack at Jasser bridge. Even though, he was reluctant to move forward (because of the Indian comprehensive orders were caught on the Indian side of border) he was forced to take his command to Jasser sector. However, it later turned out that those orders were indeed true, and he was ordered to move back into the same position. It was at this time, that Pakistan Army tanks caught the Indian armoured brigade by surprise, and hence was commenced the largest tank battle after the World War II.

1971 war

Now promoted Major General Abdul Ali Malik commanded the 8th Infantry Division in the western sector of 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. His troops were stationed in the Sialkot sector, and apart from some skirmishes, a major all-out war didn't happen.

References

[http://www.defencejournal.com/2001/august/letter.htm Battle of Chawinda]

External links

* [http://www.ummat.com.pk/report_ummat/10022008-misc_reports/interview-10022008b.html Air Commodore Syed Sajjad Haider on 1965 war and surrounding events]